A reporter from Dantri/Dtinews in Dak Lak Province, and representatives from the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital, hand over a symbolic cheque for VND 233,705,673 (approximately USD 9,000) to Nguyen Thao Chinh on November 6.
The funds were donated by readers to help Nguyen Xuan Chuong, 52, via Dtinews. In addition, following publication of his case, the family received nearly VND 140 million (approximately USD 5,400) from philanthropists. In total, the family has received more than VND 373 million (approximately USD 14,400).
Receiving the donations, Chuong's daughter, Nguyen Thao Chinh, 25, said that thanks to the generous support, her father was able to receive timely surgery.
“The more than VND 370 million is truly a large and meaningful gift. On behalf of my family, I would like to express our deep thanks to Dtinews and the readers who offered help when we were at our lowest and could not afford to treat my father,” she said.
A benefactor has covered the full cost of a skin-graft operation for Chinh’s father at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. As a result, Chinh plans to save the funds received via Dtinews in a savings account to support her father after he is discharged.
Chuong is a single father who took on casual jobs to support four children.
On the afternoon of October 10, while working on a construction site, he suffered an electric shock, causing severe burns covering more than 50 per cent of his body and deep tissue damage.
He was first treated at the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital, but doctors recommended transfer to Ho Chi Minh City due to the severity of the electric burns. The family was forced to borrow money to cover the cost of transfer and long-term treatment, and faced financial ruin.
After Dtinews published his story, readers responded quickly by sending contributions that allowed him to receive necessary treatment.
Ho Si Phu, head of the nursing department at Central Highlands Regional General Hospital, thanked Dtinews and readers for their support.
“Timely help from Dtinews has given many patients a chance for treatment and a better life. We hope that more hard-pressed cases will continue to receive the attention and support of this respected newspaper,” Phu said.